Judas

[joo-duhs]

noun

1. Also called Judas Iscariot. the disciple who betrayed Jesus in the New Testament.

2. a person treacherous enough to betray a friend; traitor.

3. Also called Saint Judas,. Also called Saint Jude. one of the 12 apostles of Jesus (not Judas Iscariot).

4. (in the Bible) a brother of James (and possibly of Jesus).

5. Also called judas hole. Usually judas a peephole, as in an entrance door or the door of a prison cell.

adjective

1. (of an animal) used as a decoy to lead other animals to slaughter.

   A Judas goat led sheep into the abattoir.

Judas

¹

/ ˈdʒuːdəs /

noun

1. Full name: Judas Iscariot. New Testament the apostle who betrayed Jesus to his enemies for 30 pieces of silver (Luke 22:3–6, 47–48)

2. a person who betrays a friend; traitor

3. a brother or relative of James and also of Jesus (Matthew 13:55). This figure, Thaddaeus, and Jude were probably identical

adjective

1. denoting an animal or bird used to lure others of its kind or lead them to slaughter

judas

²

/ ˈdʒuːdəs /

noun

1. Also called: judas window.  judas hole. (sometimes capital) a peephole or a very small window in a door

Other Word Forms

• Judaslike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Judas¹

C19: after Judas Iscariot

Example Sentences

And on the Uncloaked podcast later, we learned that if Marler ever texts Mohammed, he calls him Judas.

Read more on BBC

In 2 Maccabees, Judas Maccabeus offers prayers for the dead—meaningful only if the soul can be aided after death—but Protestants typically consider the book extracanonical.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Heavy metal band Judas Priest have released a charity single featuring the late Ozzy Osbourne to raise money for Parkinson's disease charities.

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Coincidentally, his breakout role came in 2016 when he landed the co-lead as Judas in “Jesus Christ Superstar” at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ the conflict between Cynthia Erivo’s all-seeing, all-feeling Jesus and Adam Lambert’s competitive yet remorseful Judas was thrillingly brought to life in their different yet wholly compatible musical styles.

Read more on Los Angeles Times